Interior minister approves residency status for migrant children

Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Wednesday that he has approved permanent residency status for 221 children of migrant workers.

The children, whose ages range from eight to 23 years old, have already been integrated into the Israeli educational system.

"In my decision, I took into account the considerable dealing with the applications of those children who grew up here and are, in practice, Israelis," Sa'ar said in a statement.

"We also considered their not having been deported over the years since the cabinet decision and until the inter-ministerial committee completed its work. The decision stems from a balanced and humanitarian approach that took into account Israel's values as a Jewish and democratic state."